New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-06-22
THE NATIONS CAPITOL.

THE NATIONS CAPITOL.
The Structure VIII Be the Most Beau
tiful and Extensive in the world
Building the Marble Terrace and
the Grand staircase.
The marble terrace and grand stair
case which are to complete the i'm
posing western approach to the capt
tol of the United States, with the return
Of the balmy days of spring presents
once more scene of busy energy
among the scores of workmen who
with crane and trowel are placing the
huge blocks of polished marble and
granite in their assigned places on the
master builders plan. A procession of
carts simultaneously carry away the
excavated earth as the foundation of
the extension of the gigantic work goes
on. When the French engineer, under
instructions from President Washing.
ton, in the summer of 1890, made
reconnaissance of the gracefully undu-
lating lands in the forks of the Potomac
and the Anacostia rs the site of the
proposed seat of government, he point
ed out on his rude field sketch con-
spicuous eminence, then called jenkins
hill, as the most proper site for .'.the
federal house where congress, should
meet" Three years later Washington
laid the cornerstone of the original
edifce, which is now little more than
the foundation for the beautifully pro-
portioned iron dome towering over the
the balustraded marble walls and Cor
inthian porticoes which to-day inclose
the four acres Of frescoed and gilded
ante-rooms, corridors, committee
rooms, and great halls occupied by the
business Of legislation.
The pure white marble walls and sur
mounting balustrade, with pedestals
for statues in the future, which have
supplanted the primitive turfed slopes
of the terrace on the north and south
sides of the edifce, have been finished
The western portion from the angles to
the grand staircase is nearly so, which
leaves nothing to consummate this i'm
posing piece of architectural beauty
and soldity but the grand staircase it.
self. This will be far toward compile
ton before the close OF the present
working season.
Though but five years less than
century have elapsed since the corner
stone of the presidents house, the first
of the public buildings in the federal
city, was laid, Washington, the capital
of the United States, can boast of the
loftiest structure extant reared by man
in the marble obelisk to the memory of
1.-The Father of His Country It has
the largest and finest legislative and
government buildings on the globe.
1t has more equestrian statues and as a
rule of equal merit than all the other
capitals Of the world combined, and
its open-air and indoor statues number
upward of hundred. It's national
museums are the greatest and finest in
in the economical, chronological. and
medical affairs of mankind OF any in
existence. Its new library building
will eclipse in beauty all structures OF
the kind now in existence. Its new
observatory will surpass all others.
The extension of its water-supply will
exceed the great acqueducts of Rome.
The latest triumph in the world OF
wonders of the American capital will
be this grand staircase. Nothing of
equal magnitude can be found in the
great capitals which date back to the
infancy Of nations. The grand terrace
at Dresden, the famous gardens of
Italy, the staircase of Sans Souci at
Pottsdam, the Vatican at Rome, or the
terrace and staircase at Central park,
New York, do not even approach it in
dimensions, architectural symmetry,
and elaboration of detail and finish.
Some idea of the grandeur of this
work may be formed by a reference to
its dimensions. The north terrace, OF
Maryland, and south terrace, of HAS
sachusetts white marbles, and each
S04 feet in length and 20 feet high, each
terminating on the east in a massive
marble blocked and paved approach
to the port cocheres respectively of the
senate and house porticoes Of the
eastern facade of the capitol The
terraces walls are capped with beau
tiful marble ba,ustrade and rail, with
bookings serving at intervals for SUI
perb bronze lamp posts and pedestals
for statues, of which there would be
/ ten on each side. The walls of the
western terrace. and grand staircase
are 91S feet in length or aggregating
q richly-payed way over ], 800 feet long,
extending at the base of the lofty Cor
inthian portieoes Of the northern, west
ern, and southern fronts Of the vast
structure. Highly polished Aberdeen